On February 24, Vanessa Bryant unveiled a tribute that honored her late husband, Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant, and their daughter Gianna “Gigi” Bryant in a uniquely intimate way.
The Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Court at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California, was officially dedicated in a ceremony marking the symbolic date of 2/24, numbers that reflect Gianna‘s jersey No. 2 and Kobe‘s legendary No. 24.
For many Lakers fans, the unveiling offered a window into how Vanessa Bryant has channeled private family memories into a public legacy that reaches far beyond the basketball court.
Located inside the hospital’s Sue & Bill Gross Women’s Pavilion, the newly named Family Court serves as a departure area where parents, especially those with newborns, prepare to leave the hospital and begin a new chapter at home.
It’s a functional space designed to support families at a meaningful moment, but it also carries a deeply personal resonance for the Bryant family.
Vanessa Bryant, a philanthropist and business executive, gave birth to all four of her daughters at Hoag, making the hospital a place of cherished memories for the family.
Speaking at the ceremony, she noted the emotional coincidence of the No. 24 already being a visible part of the building’s exterior, a nod to Kobe Bryant‘s iconic number with the Lakers.
“Today on 2/24, we unveiled the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family court at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach. HOAG Hospital will always hold a special place in my heart having delivered our four daughters there. The staff took such great care of us and we are happy to give back for future generations!” Vanessa Bryant wrote on social media alongside photos of the court’s new signage.
Kobe and Gianna are most widely known because of their extraordinary impact on basketball, Kobe as a five-time NBA champion and 18-time All-Star with the Los Angeles Lakers and Gianna as a rising star in girls’ basketball before her tragic death alongside her father in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
Vanessa Bryant keeps the memory of her husband and daughter alive through philanthropy
In the years following the 2020 crash that claimed the lives of Kobe Bryant, 41, and 13-year-old Gianna Bryant, along with seven others, Vanessa Bryant has been actively involved in charitable initiatives that reflect her family’s values and passions.
She leads the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting youth athletes who might not otherwise have access to sports opportunities.
Previous projects have included refurbishing basketball courts in underserved communities and partnering with local organizations to promote youth sports programs.
In each case, the initiatives carry forward the work ethic and spirit Kobe and Gianna were known for, helping young athletes pursue their dreams both on and off the court.
Read the full article here
